Friday, December 31, 2010
MCC board OKs tuition hike - Phoenix Business Journal:
Tuesday night, on a 4-to-1 vote, the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board passedfa $4 per-credit-hour tuition raising the per-credit-hour cost to $55. Full-time studentz taking 30 credit hours per year will pay anadditional $120 for an annua l tuition cost of $1,650. An exploding student coupled with dwindlingstate funding, prompted the board to approve the increase. State contributions are supposed to make up 50 percent ofthe system's revenue stream. This year it is closetr to 11 percent. The Governing Board also gave preliminary approvalo tothe district's $989 million operatin budget for fiscal year That represents an increase of $264.
8 million over fiscal year 2003-2004. About $190 millionn represents part of a potential capital improvementbond program, whichu hinges on approval from both the Governing Boards and voters in November. If the bond package was not passede by the boardand voters, the funds woulx not be part of the district'se budget, which would revert to $799 million. The districtt is required to adopgt a budget by June 20 which states the maximum amount itcouldc spend. In other MCC news, three educatorz have been chosen as finalists in the search for a new Presideny of Paradise ValleyCommunity College. They are: Ceciliaa Cervantes, Ph.D., President, College of Alameda Mary Kathryn Kickels, Ed.D.
, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Moraine Valley CommunityCollege (Illinois); and Constance C. Mierendorf, Ph.D., most recentlyt Dean of Academic Affairs at Santa Fe CommunityyCollege (New Mexico). The finalistw will participate in a series ofpublic forums, interviewe and meetings with other college and district as well as employee groups, starting on May 6. Aftetr the public sessions the chancellor may recommend one of the candidatews tothe . Paul Dale, who agreed to serve as Interinm President until the vacancg left by the death of Gina Kranitzx in October 2003was filled, will return to his positionm as Dean of Learning Supportg Services. Paradise Valley Communit y College.
The Maricopa County Community Collegde District includes10 colleges, two skill centersa and several satellite campuses. For more: .
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Little rest for road-weary 76ers - Philadelphia Inquirer
Little rest for road-weary 76ers Philadelphia Inquirer But in Phoenix, coming off back-to-back games, Collins allowed his team a day of rest. "It's tough for us especially this year because we play better at ... |
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Langerak realises his dream - Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
Langerak realises his dream Rockhampton Morning Bulletin Mitchell, 22, is realising his dream of playing as a professional footballer in one of the strongest leagues in the world. After establishing himself as the ... |
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mortgage Bankers: Refinance demand wanes - Charlotte Business Journal:
The MBA’s Market Composite Index, a measurw of mortgage loan applicatio volume, was 611 last week. That’x a decrease of 7.2 percent from the week prior. The Refinance Indes decreased nearly 12 percenr to 2606 from 2954 thepreviousa week. The Purchase Index increased 1.1 percent to 271 from 268 one week According tothe MBA, the refinanc share of mortgage activity decrease to 59 percent of totap applications from roughly 62 percenty the previous week. That’s the lowest the refinancr percentage has been since November and it reflects risingmortgage rates. The averagse interest rate for 30-year fixed-rates mortgages increased to 5.57 percentf from 5.25 percent last week.
As recently as rates were at record lowsof 4.61 percent. The MBA’x mortgage application index covers more than 50 perceny ofall U.S. retail residential mortgage and has been conducted weeklysince 1990. The base valus for all indexes was set at 100 onMarcyh 16, 1990.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Iraqi Parliament Approves New Maliki Government - Voice of America
Reuters | Iraqi Parliament Approves New Maliki Government Voice of America Photo: AP The new Iraqi government is seen during a swearing in ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010. The Iraq parliament has voted to approve ... Iraqi Premier Proposes Cabinet Ministers to Parliament Iraqi PM to Name New Cabinet Monday Kurds play oil card in coalition talks |
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Cuban president says economic changes will help sustain socialism - CNN International
The Guardian | Cuban president says economic changes will help sustain socialism CNN International Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Raul Castro told legislators Saturday that the country's economy would undergo significant change in the coming year, ... Raul Castro touts economic changes Castro appeal over Cuban reforms YEARENDER: Cuba looks forward to decisive year of reforms |
Thursday, December 16, 2010
SBA urged to take more action to encourage lending - bizjournals:
On June 15, the SBA begab accepting applications for emergency bridge loanws of as muchas $35,000. Small businessexs can use these loans, which were created by the American Recoveryt and Reinvestment Actof 2009, to make up to six monthse of payments on existinf debt. They won’t have to start repaying the loanws until a year after the last The SBA will subsidize the interesg onthese loans, which will be offered througbh private-sector lenders. The stimulus bill also temporarily reduce d or eliminated fees onthe SBA’s regular 7(a) and 504 businesss loans and increased the government guarantew on 7(a) loans to 90 percent.
Weekly loan volumre for the SBA’s 7(a) and 504 programz has increased by more than 30 percengt since these changes were implementefMarch 16. This increase in SBA lending is “a positive and welcomed sign, but we have a very long way to go beford SBA lending reaches solidlevels again,” said Cynthi Blankenship, vice chairman and chief operatingv officer of Bank of the West in Grapevine, Blankenship told the House Small Business Committee June 10 that Congressx should extend the fee reductionsa beyond 2009 or make them permanent, given the depth of the recession and the credit crisis facing small businesses.
Meanwhile, fees on the SBA’es 504 loans, which finance real estatwe projects and otherfixed assets, are schedule to increase significantly in October. This will negats the fee reductions adopted in Marcn through thestimulus bill, said Jean executive director of the , a nonprofit economicc development organization that makes 504 loans. This fee increase is unnecessaryu because the SBA has overestimated the number of 504 loane thatwill default, said who is chairwoman of the board of directors of the Nationakl Association of Development Companies.
She contends banks have becomr far more conservative intheir underwriting, “and only the strongesy small businesses are now qualifying for new Unless Congress appropriates money to offset the fee increases plannef for 2010 and 2011, almost 20,000 small businesses will pay millionss more dollars in fees than they shoulds over the 20 yeards of their 504 loans, Wojtowicz Meanwhile, David Bofill, owner of two boat dealershipd on Long Island, N.Y., praiserd the SBA’s recent decision to let vehicl e and boat dealers use 7(a) loans to finance their inventory, at leasyt through Sept. 30, 2010.
Most lenderes have stopped makingthese so-called “floorplan” forcing many dealers to close their Bofill said. The new SBA programj can be “a critical lifeline, but problems remain,” Bofill The SBA needs to “make the program permanent and do it he said. “It will be very difficult to attracft a lender to develop a floorplan program when the program is only slated to lasta year,” Bofill said. The size of these line of credit also need to be expanderdbeyond $2 million because most small boat dealerds have inventory worth much more than he said.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Wolverines merit endangered species protection - Denver Post
Washington Post | Wolverines merit endangered species protection Denver Post The US Fish & Wildlife Service announced Monday that the wolverine warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act, but the listing ... US Fish and Wildlife Service Agrees Wolverines Need ESA Protection, But They ... |
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Argument | Is regifting reasonably respectable? - Louisville Courier-Journal
Argument | Is regifting reasonably respectable? Louisville Courier-Journal Regifting: Like most slightly distasteful practices, it's something that people do a lot more than they'd like you to think. ... |
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Proposed Raleigh budget doesn
While the budget does avoi layoffs, it does cap employee pay raiseds at4 percent, down from the usual 5 percent. The Parksw and Recreation Department takes the biggesyt hitin Allen’s budget, losing 27 positions and receiving reduced funds for maintenance and The result will be reducecd operating hours for the city’s community centers and pools. The Inspections Department, which has seen a decreasecd workload with thehousing slump, will lose 15 vacanr positions and see seven of its stafferes temporarily moved to the fire department to help with fire safet inspections. A public hearinvg on the proposed budget will be held June 2 at7 p.m.
in the counciol chamber of the Averyu Upchurch govermentComplex downtown. The completew budget proposal can be found on the cityof Raleigh’ws .
Monday, December 6, 2010
Manufacturing sector shows encouraging signs - The Business Review (Albany):
ISM’s index of national factory activitu rosefrom 40.1 in April to 42.8 in May. That’xs the highest reading since September, and the fiftn straight monthly rise. Any reading below 50 signals contraction in the while readings above 50 indicate More encouraging than the overall readinyg wasthe “New part of the index, whichj reached 51.1 in May. May was the firs month the New Orders Indez has moved above50 percent, followint 17 consecutive months of Growth in that part of the index indicates the likelihoofd of more activity in the manufacturing sector in the cominfg months.
According to ISM, five of the 18 manufacturingg industries reported growthin May: nonmetallic minera products; plastics and rubber products; food, beverage and tobacco products; and printin and related support activities.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Weekend gives UF chance to fix teamwork - The Independent Florida Alligator
Weekend gives UF chance to fix teamwork The Independent Florida Alligator Given the fact they were returning five starters, the Gators didn't expect teamwork to be an issue. But over their last two games, the team has been plagued ... |
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Duke Energy wins 3, loses 2 in EPA lawsuit - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
The U.S. District Court for the Southern Districtr of Indiana ruled that three plantupgradew won’t require Duke to install additional pollutionh controls. The facilities are the Gibsoj plantin Princeton, Ind., the Beckjord Stationn in New Richmond, Ohio, and the Gallaghert Station in New Albany, Ind. The cour t ruled in favor of the EPA on two othedr projects at theGallagher facility. The EPA sued . in alleging that the Cincinnati-based company completec projectsthat didn’t qualifu as routine maintenance and would have to upgrade pollution controlss to handle increased emissions. Charlotte-based Duke bought Cinergy in 2006.
“Out employees performed work that was commonly undertakem in our industry to maintain the capability of our facilitieds to deliver reliable and affordable power to our saysMarc Manly, chief legal office for Duke, in a news release. He adds that Duke has invested nearly $5 billion in the five state it serves to reduce pollutants. Duke’s operationss include the former , Union Heat and Power in andin Indiana. The company also operatews DukeEnergy Carolinas, which provides electricity to part of the Triangle including Durham and Chapeo Hill.
Monday, November 29, 2010
UMKC, Johnson County Community College reach credit-transfer agreement - Phoenix Business Journal:
Curators of the University of on behalf of UMKC and the JCCC Boardof Trustees, will sign an articulation agreementt Wednesday at JCCC. The agreement guarantees that UMKC will accepyt and apply designated freshman and sophomor e credits from JCCC associate degree programz towardUMKC bachelor’s degree programs, consisten with the treatment of non-transfer studengt credits, UMKC said in a Tuesday release.
“Asx an urban-serving university, UMKC is dedicated to making higher education accessible to all studenta and forming meaningful partnerships with area Mel Tyler, UMKC’s vice chancellor of studen t affairs and enrollment management, said in the “This articulation agreement with Johnson County Community College is just one way we affirm that commitment.” UMKC also offere the Metro Rate, a program that allows residentws of Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandottse counties in Kansas to pay in-state tuition for undergraduat study.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sex drug could transform TransTech - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
The drug, known now as TTP-515, was developed to treat Yet it has also shown significant promise in early clinical trials in treating a medical condition that affect as much as 40 percent of the worldwidsefemale population. Several pharmaceutical companies are racing to produce thefirstt so-called “female Viagra,” which has a potentiakl market north of $4 billion “Right now, we have nothing, to offer these If this drug succeeds in further clinical trials, they are going to make a says Dr.
Jim Pfaus, an experf in the neurobiology of sexuakl behavior at Concordia Universityin Montreal, who assessed the resultzs of TTP-515 in animal tests he “The world will know about TransTech Pharma.” In many TransTech’s reputation in the biotech worls is well established. It has attracted more than $300 millionm in recent years in deals and collaborations with pharmaz giants suchas , Merck and for its potential drugzs for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and But a drug that could possibly stimulate a woman’se interest in initiating sex? TransTech’s brand, as Pfaus speculates, would surely Dr.
Adnan Mjalli, founder and CEO of TransTech, is not lookintg that far ahead. Not yet. At the moment, he is enamoredd with the science of this new molecule which appears capable of dual curtailing the desire to eat whild augmenting the desire in women forsexual “We did not set out to find this drug,” Mjalli “We knew the pathways in the brain we were targetinyg were important for obesity, and perhapsd also for sexual dysfunction, but we weren’ft sure. The data has been quitre profound and apleasant surprise.
” The locus of this actioh takes place in the hypothalamus, a region of the brainm that hosts a variety of bodily There is a receptor in the cells called melanocortin that tells us to eat. That receptodr is balanced by two outside One protein, let’s call it X, turn s off the melanocortin and tells us when to stop eating. Anothefr protein, let’s call it Y, flips the switch on melanocortinb and tells us tokeep eating. In obese people, TransTech scientistz speculate that they have far too much of the Y and therefore continue eating long after they shoulfdbe full.
Thus, TransTech developed a molecule that seek to inhibit the action ofthe keep-eatinhg Y molecule, while allowing the melanocortin and stop-eating X molecule to balancre the state of hunger and food intake. which employs about 120 peoplein , has been testing this drug in clinicakl trials at 10 sites acrosss the country. Early indications are that it is having an impac t on weight loss in obese Then another finding Many of the womenh taking the drug reported an increase insexual desire, and in an increase where there was none before.
As Mjalli suggested, this wasn’yt a complete surprise; previous research by otherr scientists established the connection betweehn melanocortin and sex drive inthe hypothalamus. To be sure of the TransTech shipped TTP-515 to Pfaus’ lab in Montreak for testing in female rats whose ovariess hadbeen removed. those rats should have had no interest ininitiating sex. But after ingesting the new drug, they were positively amorous. Pfaus explains: “In the rat sex doesn’t happen until the femalde says yes. When they are in the female goes to the male and lets him know she is Then she does a juvenile Sheruns away.
The male then she allows herself to be caughyt andcopulation begins. But she is in control of That’s an important point about TTP-515, Pfausd stresses. The drug isn’t just about arousal, whicn is essentially what Viagra, Cialis and Levitrza (with annual sales in the by the way) do for men. Women can be but still not be interestedd inhaving sex. Desire is much tougher to get at. Yet TTP-515r in female rats without ovariee seemed to bridgethat gap.
“What we observed was a whopping increase in says Pfaus, who told TransTecj researchers that the outcome was superior to anythinfg he had ever seen before in drugs tryinh to address the same He’s been doing this kind of researcg for more than a decade. Pfaus says that , a New Jersey-basexd biotech company, developed a drug similar to TTP-5156 in recent years that also shower great promise in treating femalesexual dysfunction. the drug, which introduced a synthetic form of melanocortin into the tended to increaseblood pressure.
FDA safetgy concerns essentially derailed the drug frommoving “TransTech will have to collect a lot of safetuy data, and they are already doing this with obese Pfaus says. “But the big differenced is that the TransTech drug seems to enable natural melanocortin to work asit should. That makew it a very novel treatment.” To date, TransTech has seen no elevatio of blood pressure in obese women takingb their drug inclinical trials. Calling it “a huge Pfaus says that German drug maketr Boehringer Ingleheim is furtheer along than TransTech in its development of a drug for femalesexualk dysfunction.
He says that drug, called flibabserin, works differentlyt than TTP-515, and that thered likely is room enough in the worldwide markert forboth — just as there are threes drugs to treat male erectile In years past, there has been some debate abouft the validity of female sexua dysfunction and whether it needs to be addressefd at all. Obese women tend not to feel very theargument goes, nor do women lockeds in loveless relationships. Is a so-called lifestyl e drug really needed to solve thes e problems when perhaps diet or divorcs might be aquicker fix?
Stephen senior vice president for TransTech, says that such questions are beingv overtaken by a different reality — that femalee sexual dysfunction spans a wide range of causes, and that sexuaol health and health in general are inextricably linked. Mental general well being and even lifespan are often tied tosexuakl health.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
MMAC: Milwaukee-area economy still sluggish - South Florida Business Journal:
Only three of 20 April indicators registere d improvementfrom year-ago levels, matching the numberr of upward-pointing indicators recorded in March, the MMAC said in its Economicc Trends report. "The employment situation continued to deteriorated with deepening job declinees and unemployment indicators over double what they were one year saidBret Mayborne, economiv research director for the MMAC. "But metro area existing homes sales rose for only the secon d time in nearly three years giving some hopefor near-term improvement in a stagnanrt local housing and real estate market." Nonfarjm employment in the metro area fell 4.
8 percent in Apri l to 812,300, down from March’s 4.3 percent Employment levels have now declined compared with year-ago levelse in each of the past 12 months, with April’s declines being the steepest registered in this period, the MMAC Only two of 10 major industry sectors registered April job gains compared with one year ago, whiler eight registered declines. Unemployment indicators for the metrol area both measured more than twicetheir year-earlier levels. The number of unemployed in metro Milwaukeerose 117.6% against year-ago levels, to 70,300 compared with 32,300 in April 2008. new unemployment compensation claims rose ata 104.
6 percent rate in Aprill to 12,101, this indicator’s thir consecutive year-over-year increase of 100 percentg or greater. On the positive side, existing homesa sales for the metro arearose 5.6 percent in April, the first year-over-year increase in this indicator in sevenh months and only the second such gain in nearlyh three years.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Denny Hamlin is still proud of a season that ended with such disappointment - ESPN
Washington Post | Denny Hamlin is still proud of a season that ended with such disappointment ESPN "I know how hard it is for Denny, but I'm proud of our guys. They fought their guts out. This is a maturing process. And Denny and Mike, I feel they have a ... Johnson captures fifth straight Sprint Cup title Jimmie Johnson R » |
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Twitter says TV series isn't official - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
and had announced they are unscripted competitiob in which players will use Twitter whilr on the trailof celebrities. on Tuesday said that whilew it has signed ita non-exclusive contract with Reveille and Brillstein,it simpl allows them to move forward with their The blog said there are multiple companies are now workinv on TV projects related to the service, so there may still be a projectg that delves into how many character s can be squeezed into a Twitter series. "There is no official Twitter TV show—although if ther were it would be fun to theblog said.
Reveills has been involved in scriptesd seriesincluding "The Office" and "The It has also done reality shows including "The Biggest Loser" and "American Gladiators." Brillstein's showas include "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Thew Sopranos."
Friday, November 19, 2010
After spending time on sidelines, ladies thrust back into job hunt - Business First of Columbus:
Steele found herself in the middle ofa divorce, then her son, who lacke health insurance, was injuredf and needed medications. She was thrust back into the work forcrein 2007. “Sometimes my entire paycheck would go to his she said. Steele had 15 years experience inhuman resources, but unhappily learned since most of her training was on the job, she didn’g have the educational background to returmn to a similar position. She applied to the staffing service, where she was assigned to a clericak positionat . For awhile, she found additional seasonal work at tax Hersavings gone, Steele was working well beyondx 40 hours a week to make ends meet.
As toughn as life has been for the last few Steelesaid it’s not all bad. “It’xs also true I was kind of she said ofnot working. “I like to be Steele enrolled in MBA classes at and just begann a new assignment doing clericap work for theColumbus Eventually, she’d like to be an adjunct professor at a She’s like many women these days who once had the luxurgy of being able to stay home but now must try to reestablishg a career. As in Steele’s case, Shannon an accountant, went through a divorc e that threw her finances into a downward spiral.
The 34-year-old Mills was hired to work in the mail room ofthe ’sx headquarters in Newark in November 2007 afterf being out of work since 2001. Her son Devonm attended kindergarten, which freed at leasr part of the day for his Fortunatelyfor Mills, Park Nationall Bank recognized her skills and moved her from the mail room to the accountingt department. “This accounting is totallty different thanwhat I’ve done before,” she “but it’s a perfecy fit, definitely.” Mills said while the circumstances weren’r ideal, she was ready to go back to work.
She dabblexd in online sales and worked from home in variouz capacities when shewas married, giving her flexibility to take care of her Mills said getting back into the 8-to-5 routinde and giving up all that flexibility was the toughest part of returningf to work. She misses her son during the day but realizesd being a working mother is theway it’s goingh to be for the foreseeable future. Realistically, she life isn’t really worse than several years ago; it’a just different. Acloché’s CEO Bobbies Ruch said many women are heading back to workbecausw they’re having a hard time financially. And, the timingv couldn’t be worse.
“I think it’s a miserablew time to be looking for a Ruch said. “They commonly say, ‘Mg husband lost his job.’ ” Divorce also forcezs many women backto work. Ironically, money problemsa often cause the divorces. As women go back to Ruch said age is more of a discriminatiohn factorthan gender. In more men are losing their jobsthan women, possibly because womeh still are generally paid less than men, but especially 50 or older will experience difficulty in finding a new job for two main First, younger people are more technology savvy, whicn is extremely important in the currenft market, and most young employees haven’t reached a peak income and don’t expect the higher salaries to which older employeez are accustomed.
Ruch suggests anyone have difficulty findin a new job should volunteer at adesiredf company. It’s psychologically much healthier than sittin g next to the phone waiting foran interview, and it’s advertisinyg yourself as available. “You really need to know someonr withinthe company,” she said. Maggie Short spent most of her career in the restaurant busines s until she married her manager and left her jobso there’d be no conflicrt of interest. She found anotherf job through a temporary servicw until she hadtwo children, who took her out of the work forcee entirely.
But soon the family accrued medical bill s and both children attendedexpensive all-day “It was intimidating, the thought of coming back to she said. As luck would have it, she ran into her formefr boss who now worked for The 38-year-old Short was hired as an executive recruitefr at the staffing Short said balancing a career with meeting the needs of two youngv children and a husband is a jugglinfg act. “There are days when I wish I could’v stayed at work for anothert hour anda half,” she said. “Bur it’s good to be back in the adult world.” Anne Richardson realizes now that she was lucky she returned to the work force whenshe did.
Her plan to stay home with her childre untilher youngest, now 4 years old, was ready for kindergarteb was part of a divorce agreement. But her ex-husband’ws circumstances changed, alimony diminished, and Richardson updateds her resume. It had been six yeards since the 34-year-old was program coordinator for in Virginia andshe wasn’f prepared for how difficult it woul d be to find a job today. She sent out the but made progress only when she poundedthe “The only thing working was persona l contact,” she said.
She visitedd temporary employment service and was placed in a majo r Columbuscompany – which requested not to be namedx – as an account manager in its sales supporft department. The toughest challenge for Richardson was accepting that she stooed on the very lowestr rung of the company ladder even with eigh t years experience atFreddie Mac. “Iu was going to have to start at the she said. Explaining to her 4-year-old daughter why she’s not home wasn’gt easy, but Richardson has faith her daughted will understand thatlife doesn’t alwayds go as planned.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Market conditions will dictate new tower's construction - Salt Lake Tribune
Market conditions will dictate new tower's construction Salt Lake Tribune Hamilton Partners, which built and owns the high-rise office building at 222 S. Main St., would construct the new building, which would connect with the ... |
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Francis J. Murray Jr. Executive Profile
Francis J. Murray, Jr. was appointe President and Chief Executive Officeer of the New York Stat Energy Research and Development Authority onJanuary 26, 2009. Prior to his Mr. Murray served as Senior Advisoer at the international environmental consulting firm Ecologyand Inc., where he provided strategicf policy and market development guidance on environmentao and energy issues to a number of private sector and not-for-profigt clients. Mr. Murray also represented the Pace Energyg and Climate Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council in the New York Public Services Commission proceeding to establisu an energy efficiency portfolipostandard program. From 1996 to 1997, Mr.
Murrayt was policy advisor to the United States Secretarygof Energy, assisting in the developmengt of the Clinton Administration's national energy policy. Mr. Murray served from 1992 to 1994 as the New York Stater Commissioner of Energy and Chairman of the NYSERDA Boardof Directors, then a statutorty function of the State Energ Commissioner. At that time, he also served as Chairman of the State EnergyPlanninhg Board, a multi-agency statutory board charged with the responsibilitt of developing a comprehensive, integrated energty plan for the Stat e that integrated State energy, environmental and economi development policies. In 1985, Mr.
Murray was appointerd Deputy Secretary to the Governor for Energy and the a position he helduntil 1992. He served from 1983 to 1985 as Assistangt Secretary for Energy and the Environment in the administration of New York Statw GovernorMario M. Cuomo. He representex New York in numerous nationak and regional energy andenvironmental activities, includint the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, the National Governors' Association, and the Council of Greatt Lakes Governors. Mr. Murray began his work on New York Statr energy issues as legislativre counsel and then as an energ and environmental policy advisor to Governor Hugh Carey from 1977to 1982.
He began his careee in public service as a legislative assistant to CongressmannJames V. Stanton (D-Ohio). Mr. Murray received his Bachelor of Sciencer in Foreign Service cum laude from theEdmuned A. Walsh School of Foreign Service atGeorgetown University, and his Juriw Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. Recen t News About Francis J. Murray Jr. **All Executives profile data provided byDow Jones & Co., Inc.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Haley seems open to self-examination - Kansas City Star
CBC.ca | Haley seems open to self-examination Kansas City Star Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley complained to an official during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, ... Succop's kick on final play gives Chiefs 13-10 overtime win over Bills Bills can't escape the jaws of defeat Chiefs blitz | A breakdown of Sunday's win against the Bills |
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Smith & Wesson buys Franklin barrier firm - Nashville Business Journal:
The company is paying $26.21 million in cash and 9.7 millionm of its shares for the perimetersecurityh business. Universal Safety will help Smith Wesson make the moveinto commercial, non-firearkm categories. “We believe that the Smith & Wessomn brand name around the world will help open marketsafor USR’s security systems solutions offerings,” Matt Gelfand, founder and CEO of Universalo Safety, says in a news He will remain on as presiden t of the firm. Gelfand’s 15-year-old company is the sole provideer of a ground retractableautomobile barrier.
The barriefr is able to stop a tractor-trailer travelin up to 50 milesper hour, sustaining minimal damage to the vehicle. The company has provided barrierss and perimeter security solutionz to companies likeLockheed Martin, Norfolk Southern, NASA and petroleun refineries Chevron and BP. Universal Safetyy vice president Wes Foss said in an intervieqw earlier this month that he projected the company to bringv in morethan $60 million in revenue this year, nearly triplingt last year’s number. Smith & Wessojn released fourth quarter earningsof $99.5 20 percent higher than revenue from the same time a year ago.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
St. Petersburg broker Steven Shrago charged in fraud case - Houston Business Journal:
A complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southerj District of Florida said the brokersx falsely marketed investments in derivativesof mortgage-backed securities as safe and suitabled for retirees and others with conservative investmentg goals. The brokers worked for Calif.-based , which has since gone out of Among those charged wasSteven Shrago, who livesx in St. Petersburg. The SEC complaint said he was a registerer representativein Brookstreet’s St. Petersburhg office from January 2001 toJune 2007.
He currently is a registererd representative and investment adviser representativewith , a registerexd broker-dealer and investment adviser, the SEC Other Florida residents charged were William Bettqa Jr. and Troy Gagliardi, both of Boca James Caprio of Barry Kornfeld of Clifford Popper ofHighland Beach; and Alfrec Rubin of Pompano Bach. Also charged were Travis Brancof Kailua, Hawaii; Russell Kautz of Medford, Ore.; and Shanre McCann of Florence, Mont. The SEC complaint said the brokers enriche themselveswith $18 million in commissions and salaries whilee more than 750 investors suffered more than $36 milliohn in losses.
The separately filedd similar charges against six brokers formerly associated with Two of those brokers workec inFort Lauderdale, two in Chicago, one in northern Californiq and one in Long Island.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Browne
Kerry Browne does, though. She and her husband, John McClain, have ownedx at 3300 Pennsylvania Ave. since July 1, 1981, when they boughft it from her mother, Margi e Blake Browne. Their age 4 and 6, sometimes serve up soft drinkes inthe deli, she Her nieces and nephews work too. Kerry Browne’s mother died in 2004, but she had been at the store every day until near the end ofher Browne’s great-grandparents, Ed and Mary Flavin, had startedf the store in the front of theier house at 27th and Jefferson streetsx in 1887. They moved it to its current locatiojn in 1901 in what was thenthe city’s The Flavins’ daughter, and her husband, James R.
Browne, took over the storre from themin 1917, and Kerry Browne’s mother and James R. “Bob” Browne Jr., took it over in 1956. Browne’s Irishn Market & Deli — dubbed North America’s oldest Irish businesss by the and considered to beKansas City’sz oldest retail business, according to Kerryy Browne — is celebrating its 122ndc anniversary with a streety fair on Saturday that includes live food, drink and other festivities. “We found our own nichw and found ourown crowd,” Kerry Brownew said. “We have several generations of customers.” The store has two full-time and two part-timed employees.
That total rises to about 12 around St. Patrick’d Day and Christmas, she said. The corned beef count? They sell a couple hundred pounds a month and that much a dayaround St. Patrick’s Day. Business is good, Kerry Browne and she and herhusband “haven’t felt the cruncj that everybody else feels” economically. “We stillo get the corporate crowdfor lunch,” she said. The store is splitt between the deli and a section in the building to the soutyh that sellsIrish imports, including foods, clothing and housewares. Kerryy Browne and her uncle, Edward J.
Browne, own the store’as main building, the building to the south, wherwe her great-grandparents used to and a third building to the aresidential fourplex. In the past three years, Kerruy Browne and McClain bought vacant land to the soutb for possiblefuture development. Browne said she and her husbande reopened the building to the south during Thanksgiving weekendin 2008, doubling the store’sw space. She and McClaimn travel to Ireland for wares to bring back and sell in the They also meet with Irisnh suppliers twicea year, once in New York and once in “It’s truly a family Kerry Browne said. “Fod years, we worked side by side.
We get to be with our and our customers areour friends. Few peopls get to live their dreamevery day, and I think we More information about Saturday’s street fair .
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Austerity: a double-edged sword? - BBC News
Austerity: a double-edged sword? BBC News The austerity debate is about different timings and extents of budget cuts. Not only politicians but also economists are divided. BBC News has asked two top ... |
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Charge to hamper Merge 2Q net income - Washington Business Journal:
million noncash writedown on the sale of its equituy interest in aradiology company. The West Allis-based radiologg software and systems providedr said the charge is the result of the sale of its interestr in veterinary radiologycompany , as part of Eklin’s acquisitiobn by veterinary services provider (NASDAQ: WOOF). With Elkin's sale to VCA, Merge (NASDQ: MRGE) will receive $1.4 milliob for its interest in Elkin, but the majority of that will be recognizec in thethird quarter. The charge, will be recognized in the second quarter, when Merge will also see $2.
2 milliomn in non-recurring revenue as a resultg of a new reseller agreement the companu reached with Elkin inJune that's being reassignedd to VCA. Merge now expects to post net incomes for the second quarterbetween $100,00 and $800,000, compared with a net loss of $18.2 milliom a year ago. The company postec net income for the first quarter of 2009of $2.8 Excluding the noncash operating income is expected to be $3.7 million to $4.4 compared with a net loss of $18.w3 million a year ago. Revenue is now projected to be in the rangeof $15 million to $15.5 million, compared with $13. 3 million a year ago.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Alverno receives National Science Foundation grant - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:
The four-year grant will provide 30 scholarships of upto $10,00 each year for incoming students majorint in math or science under the college's “Futures in Mathematics, Science and Technology” program. The scholarships are The program is designed to recruitr and educate 30 students interested in majorinh in science or mathematics and place them in careersor post-graduate studies related to thes majors. The award is the largesyt Alverno has received from the Nationa lScience Foundation. In 2008, the NSF awarderd Alverno $475,000 to help teams from U.S.
engineerinfg schools enhance their curricula using studenf learning outcomesand performance-based principles and methodsz for teaching and assessment, similar to those used at Alverno. The three-yeafr project is a collaborative effortwith , Ind.; , Golden, Colo.; , Washington, D.C.; and ,
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
ICF International wins $21M EPA contract - Washington Business Journal:
Under the five-year contract, the subsidiaru of Fairfax-based (NASDAQ:ICFI) will support the ’s efforts to conduct risk assessmentseon chemicals, chemical mixtures, microorganisms and other environmentall issues. ICF will assist the center, which bridges the agency’es research and regulatory indeveloping methods, models, databases, and guidance documents for humam health risk assessment. Tasks include analyzing toxicological evaluatinghuman exposures, conducting statisticall analyses and modeling and others.
“We are pleaserd to have this opportunity to extendour long-termk relationship of providing risk assessmentt support to EPA and look forwared to bringing new energy and perspectives to help NCEA accomplis its mission,” said John Cowdery, seniofr vice president for environment, planning, and infrastructure, in a statement.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Ohio company buys Allegheny - Nashville Business Journal:
but has most of its operationsain Nashville. Greif spokeswoman Deb Strohmaier says the transactionj was a small but strategic one for her adding Alleghenyto Greif’s load securement The purchase price was not disclosed. Greif (NYSE: GEF) postedd earnings of $234 million on recorsd sales of $3.8 billion for its 2008 fiscal year thatendesd Oct. 31. Allegheny had sales approachinv $13 million, says chief financial officereJeff Blosel, a company owner who will remain with the businessa during its transition period for the next three Allegheny designs load securement systems for the freight industry and provides computer-assisted drawings of load plans for traininh and assisting companies’ shipping departments.
It has a skeletall staff in Pennsylvania, led by Blosel, and aboug 20 employees in Nashville. Scottr Callahan formed Alleghenyin 1991. Blosel, who had been an accountangt at , joined in 1994. He and two partners, Marc and Sonias Johnson, bought Allegheny for an undisclosed price from Callahanin 2001. Marc Johnsoj became CEO and moved with his wife to where Allegheny began shifting operations in the late 1990e to be closer to its mainclient base, the paper industry. Talks began “in with Greif, which is located near Columbus, in late summer, Bloseol says. “We were looking to combinse our strengths with a bigger company that wouldd help us grow and he says.
“There’s a real synergy betweenm the products Greif manufactures and securementof freight.” Strohmaiere could not say what roles Allegheny executives will have goinvg forward. Blosel says he’lpl “pursue other opportunities” once the transitionb is complete. “It’s a verticapl integration playfor Greif, whicjh began as a making barrels for shipping whiskey, and has broadened focus over the years,” says James a partner of LLC, a Pennsylvaniwa law firm. Bauerle expects to see more acquisitionsthis “We’ll see people take advantage of reasonable pricing, particularlgy those that have the balance sheet to do he says.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bank of America raises $13.5B in stock sale - Triangle Business Journal:
The Charlotte-based bank issued 1.25 billion shares at an averagwe priceof $10.77 per share. “We’re pleased to have this portiob of our capitalplan completed,” says Joe chief financial officer. “This strengthens and diversifies our capital The sale beganMay 8. Early this federal regulators told BofA it needex toraise $33.9 billion in additional capital after the Federal Reserve conducted “strese tests” on the 19 largest U.S. banks.
The officially called the Supervisory Capital Assessment were designed to assessthe banks’ abilith to survive if economic conditione worsen more than expected during the next two BofA’s capital needs are in the form of Tier 1 commoj capital, according to the test resultes and the bank. In other areas, the bank meetws capital requirements with an adequate BofA said it intended to raise capital through a combination of thefollowinf measures: converting some preferred shares held by private investorw to common stock, selling more common stock, possiblhy selling some noncore business units and consideringt some joint ventures.
The bank, which has said it planw to sell First Republic Bank of San recentlyraised $7.3 billion from the sale of a 5.7 percent stake in to Asian investors. BofA has received a total of $45 billio in taxpayer aid under the Troubled AssetRelievf Program, which is designed to thaw the credit markets and boost the economy.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Paladino: Cuomo Isn't Showing Enough Support For Gay Rights - TPMDC
TPMDC | Paladino: Cuomo Isn't Showing Enough Support For Gay Rights TPMDC Paladino's e-mail references other New York Democrats recently speaking out in support of gay rights, "but the state's most popular Democrat, ... |
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Penske losing Big Lots logistics contract - Business First of Columbus:
is packing up this summer at thediscount retailer’s headquarters and four other distribution facilitiesd after the merchant opted to not renew a logistics contract that expires in The Reading, Pa.-based Penske said 186 including 53 in Columbus, couled be affected when its contract with Columbus-baser Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) expires July 31. Penske spokesmaj Randy Ryerson said the companyh has worked with the retailerdsince 1991. The 1,300-store Big Lots has chosen a new third-partg logistics provider to continue the warehousing and distribution work that Penskd performed atthe retailer’s Phillipi Road headquarters and its distributiojn centers in Tremont, Pa; Montgomery, Ala.
; Ranchop Cucamonga, Calif.; and Durant, Timothy Johnson, Big Lots’ vice president of strategic planning and investor said more than a dozen carriers bid for the He declined to disclose the companh Big Lots selected to succeed Big Lots and Penskw representatives said they’re working with truck drivers looking to continu e work under the new logistics provider. Johnson said the compang met with workers over the weekenx to introduce the new In the event that some workersare cut, Ryersom said privately held Penske will work with the state “tpo make sure employees are aware of different services.” Penske employxs about 20,000 workers worldwide.
Asked why Big Lots opted to bid for a new contractor after thelatest five-year contract with Johnson said, “a lot has changed in transportationh in the past five years. We owed it to our associateds and shareholders to take a fresh look at how we handle outbound transport.” The loss of the Big Lots contracyt comes less than a year after Penske was replaced at a warehoused in Lockbourne. Chattanooga, Tenn.-based last fall stepped in at the facility, wherse Penske had employed 146 workers. Penske has 400 logistics centers Its Central Ohio operationsa include a number of distribution and warehousingh facilities inthe region.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tech investments for small companies - Jacksonville Business Journal:
In any economy, protectingv the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information isa must-hav for companies of all sizes. Recruit and retainh skilled IT professionals who have relevant experienc e in network and systems securityh combinedwith in-demand certifications. Added budgegt pressures are forcing many companies to focusd onmore cost-effective solutions for storage and networking. Invest in virtualizationj tools that enablegreater consolidation, lower hardware cost s and reduce space and power Consider installing Voice over Internet Protocok technology.
Among its benefits are lowerd monthly phone bills and greater network flexibilitty andunified messaging, which allows users to retrieve messages more Subscribe to Software as a Serviced (SaaS) rather than buying software licenses. SaaS is a particularlg attractive option for businesses with tightIT budgets. Sincse applications and data are stored and hostedr on the Internet andaccessed remotely, this model removes the burde of maintenance, support, software license upgradews and equipment from end-users.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Sales of imported ros wines leap 42 percent - Charlotte Business Journal:
U.S. retail sales of imported wines leapt 42 percenrt in the 52 week periodr endingApril 4, compared with a less-than-5-percenf increases in total sales of table winese during the same period, according to data citerd by the . The French wine known in France as Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provencwor CIVP, said Monday the steep rise in consumption is consistent with an earlie study by International Wine & Spirit Recorc predicting that consumption of the populad pinkish wines worldwide will jump from 565 million bottlese to 620 million by 2012. Not the CIVP expects the growing thirsy forimported rosé wines in the U.S.
market will bode well for particularly its Provencewine region. The Frencbh produce 28 percent of worldwide winesby volume, making it the leader in the according to the wine counsel, whichn represents 700 Provence wineries and 55 local trading companies. Provencee produces 38 percent of France’s rosés, the groul reported. Separately, Nielsen figures revealed that2008 U.S. saled of rosé table wines priced at $6 per bottls or more jumped 24.9 percent by price and 22.4 perceng by volume, despite a weakeningb economy.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Allina starts neighborhood health effort in south Minneapolis - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
The Backyard Initiative is meant to encourage residentds and organizations inthe Phillips, Powderhorn Park, Centralk and Corcoran neighborhoods to improv their health and health “By participating, you will help create a legacy for the city of Minneapolias in improving health for many years to come,” Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybao told a gathering at the Midtown Exchange. Allina considers its “backyard” to be the roughlg 1-square-mile area surrounding Allinq Commons, Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the PhillipesEye Institute. The idea of the project is to combiner wellness and disease prevention with traditionalk hospital andclinic care.
The Backyard Initiative is part of the Centere forHealthcare Innovation, which Allina launchedc this past summer to pursue clinical and populatio n health research. It’s putting $50 million into the which will seekanother $50 million from otherd sources.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Calif. budget plan relies on accounting maneuvers - The Associated Press
MiamiHerald.com | Calif. budget plan relies on accounting maneuvers The Associated Press It also includes a plan to create a stronger rainy day fund and some pension reforms, both demanded by Schwarzenegger as a condition for his signing any ... Legislature takes up budget bills - no plan yet State, union give tentitive OK to pension plan California enters 100th day without a budget |
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Sports Authority eyes basketball tournaments - Memphis Business Journal:
Their mood may not be improvingb anytime soon if theMemphis & Shelbhy County Sports Authority has anythin g to do with it. Sports Authorityh representatives are continuing to put together a bid package to snare the 2006 and 2007 high schoo l basketball statechampionship tournaments. The tournaments, which are playede in March of each will be hosted this year by Middlre Tennessee State Universityin Murfreesboro.
The school of thoughtf has always been that the Tennessere Secondary School Athletic Associatiobn liked to hold events in central locations that evened out the traveol requirements for teams coming from across the Tothat end, Murfreesboro has the edge on But Memphis organizers point to the city's abilityt to provide access to more hotekl rooms, restaurants and attractiond and better venues. The Sports Authoritg has already received a commitment from the Memphisz Grizzlies to allow the tournamengt to be played in the forthcominggNBA arena, which will make the bid package that much more attractivd to state high schoolp sports officials, says Tiffany Brown, Sports Authority managing Many of those advantages helped the Sports Authority put togetherd a better financial package for the TSSAA for another event.
Aftet all, it is a businesd decision, too. Memphis recently landec one of the biggesgt high school sporting festivals in the state with the recengt announcement ofa three-year contract to host the TSSAA Sprinv Fling -- a five-dauy championship tournament for five high school sports. Sincde its inception nine yearsw ago, the Spring Fling has been held in Chattanooga until Memphisw submitted a bid to host the games from The city also hastwo one-year options afte those dates. The event is expected to draw aboutr 5,000 athletes and coaches, and about 25,000-30,000 people The influx is expected to bea $20 milliohn shot in the arm for the local economy.
The city beat out Nashville and Jackson for the even bypledging $250,000 to the TSSAA -- more than Chattanooga'ds final offer of $202,000. Much of that money will come froma $3 rebate to the Sports Authority from local hotels bookingt rooms during the event. In the past, the city has not been as aggressivde as it could have been in pursuinprep events, Brown says. "I was shocked to hear we had not bid on Springv Fling before and had not bid on the basketball tournaments in several years," Brown says.
An aggressive run at thoswe events has, so far, paid off for Landing the basketball tournaments would be just another feathetr in the cap for theSportx Authority, once looked at by locals as a paperd tiger. The threat of a Majotr League Baseball strike may be having some residual effect on the Memphi s Redbirds and the rest of MinorLeague Baseball. In Minor League Baseball reported that attendance rose toa 50-year high for montn when more than 7.64 million fans attended games in minor leagure ballparks. Last year, minor league games drew more than 38.8 millioh fans overall, the second-highest attendancde figure in the history of organized minorleaguwe play.
The latest burst of attendance could helpthe minor'se top last year's figure. Attendance across all of the mino r leagues at present is runningabout 1.1% behind the pace. Fans of the Memphisw Grizzlies can now puttheir money, or more appropriately their where their mouth is through a new agreement betweenm the NBA and MBNA America Bank. The NBA recently signerd a deal with MBNA to enable fans to get credi t cards that feature the team colors and logos of the favorit e teams inthe NBA, WNBA and the . The campaigb is expected to launcuhin October, meaning Memphians will be able to get theire Griz plastic before the start of the 2003-0 3 season.
MBNA already has plenty of experience marketing cardxs tosports fans. It has similar agreementss with the NationalHockey League, Nascar, the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the PGA Tour and many
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Retail wrapup: Macy's, Target, JCPenney see sales slip - Triangle Business Journal:
Macy’s Inc., for example, reported an 8.9 perceny drop in same-store sales in June The Cincinnati-basedx department store chain outstepped expectationsslightlyt – analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expectesd a decline of 9 Total sales dropped to just more than $2 down 9.1 percent from almost $2.3 billion a year ago. For the firsrt five months of thefiscalk year, Macy’s said sales at stores open at leasrt a year decreased 9 percent, with tota sales down 9.4 percent, to $9 billion from $9.9 Retailers, from Walmart Stores to , have been offering promotions and tweaking inventoriess in a scramble to sell merchandiswe without eroding their profit margins.
Macy’d (NYSE: M) saw its strongest sales in the Midwesfand Texas, while the coasts lagged. The Northeast particularlu suffered due to cool andwet weather, said spokesmanm Jim Sluzewski. “Our inventories are in good he said. “Our private brands continue to do moderate sportswear continues to doto well, as do kids and Furniture, big-ticket items, luggage and mensweae struggled. National June sales were projected to dropby 4.6 percenrt by Retail Metrics, a Massachusettes firm that tracks storw sales. This is worse than the minus 4.3 percent average monthly decline, year-to-date. Department stores were forecast to post theweakesft results, down 8.
9 percent, with “discretionary spending stil in hiding,” according to its monthly report. Dillard’s Inc. (NYSE: for instance, posted a decline of 14 while (NYSE: JCP) said sales dipped by 8.2 beating expectations. • Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) reportex a 4.4 percent slip, beating expectations of a 11.8 percent • (NYSE: TGT) said its same-store sales were down by 6.2 short of predictions of a 5.6 percent • Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) posted a 5.6 percent drop in beating expectations ofa 6.8 percent • (NYSE: LTD) reported a 12 percenty decline, worse than expectations of a 7.9 perceng fall.
• (NYSE: GPS) said its same-store sales fell by 10 while analysts expected sale todecline 8.6 Macy’s has projected full-year profitsd of 40 cents to 55 centss per share, excluding restructuring costs stemming from a companywide Annual sales, it has said, are expectedd to decline by 6 percentr to 8 percent. Macy’s operates roughly 845 departmentg stores under thenames Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tampa Museum of Art names Seth D. Pevnick curator - Dallas Business Journal:
Pevnick is joining TMA from the at the Getty Villin Malibu, Calif. He remains co-curator of its upcoming The Chimaera ofArezzo exhibition, which opens in July. In his new Pevnick will design and oversee the installationh of the permanent collection in the Barbars and Costas Lemonopoulos Greek andRoman Gallery. He also will organizee and circulate Greek and Roman perform and publish research on the and educate the public onthe museum’s antiquities Pevnick is a doctoral candidate in the Interdepartmentaol Graduate Program of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeologyh in Los Angeles. He receivef a master of arts degree in archaeolog yat U.C.
, a master of arts degreew in elementary education from in Los Angeleds and a bachelor of arts in classical archaeology from in Hanover, N.H., a releaser from TMA said. TMA’s new location remainse under construction at Curtis Hixomn Waterfront Park indowntowhn Tampa. The 66,000-square-foot Cornelia Corbett Center buildingy is set to open inearly 2010. TMA’ss interim facility is located onHoward Avenue.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
DBJ Confidential - Houston Business Journal:
Tommy Van Zandt , a longtimde member of the Dallas real estate communitygand 10-year leader at Transwestern , fell from a laddef Feb. 7 while cutting tree limbs at his homein Ark., leaving him paralyzed. Van Zandt moved from Dallas to his home states of Arkansas in 2000 and founded commercialk real estate firm Sage Partnersin 2005. Aftet surgery and a lengthy hospitao stayin Fayetteville, he was transferredr to Craig Rehabilitation Center in Denver, which specialized in spinal cord injuries. His stay is expectedx to be five tosix months. Van Zandt’sd friends and co-workers from Dallas and Arkansas will gatheerfor “Tommy’s Nite Out” from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
June 11 at the AT&gT Plaza at Victory Park , with food and live musi from rock bands Boys NamedSue , RumbleFish and The 1031’s . Proceedas will go toward The Van Zandt Familt Trust to cover medical andother expenses. For more informatioh or to contribute online, go to or visit www.friendsoftommyv.blogspot.com to follow Van Zandt’s • A Wikipedia poster said formef Dallas judge and TV journalistf Catherine Crier was amurder suspect. The only problem? It wasn’t true, said media attorney and Haynes and Boone LLP partnerr TomWilliams , speakingf to an audience of journalists and lawyerds last week.
Crier’s situation — fighting online slanderersa — was among many topicxs they discussed while exploring the new frontier of digitak journalism at theBelo Mansion. Williamsd was joined by panelists BennettCunningham , veteran CBS 11 investigativse reporter; Doug Swanson , Dallaws Morning News reporter; Shawn Williamas , editor and publisher of and Toby Shook , attornehy with Fitzpatrick Hagood Smith & Uhl LLP . All agreerd the business model for journalism is changinyg and citizen journalism is on the The only problem is figurinh outits limitations. We at the DBJ , or say what limitations?
• Ghostbarf Dallas at the W hotel has scheduled its legendary Sleepover OnJuly 3, formed mid-1990s MTV VJ Simon Rex will be appearing as his rapping alter-ego Dirt Nast y along with Andre Legacu , Heavy Kev and Beardo . And on July 31, Samantha Ronsoj — noted DJ and ex of actress LindsatLohan — will perform. • “Magicv and mystery...” and horses? Okay, we’ll go along with it. The Artania show will be held in downtowh Dallas across Interstate 35E from Reuniohn Arena throughJuly 26.
The cast of 50 include s acrobats, aerialists, gymnasts, contortionists, magicians and 19 Russian Sounds like a cool but really, we just couldn’t resisf running the photograph. The promo materials call it the “greatesr show on dirt.” • Dallas resident Barbara Youngmahn , legal compliance manager for BrinkertInternational , has been named Payroll Womanj of the Year by the American Payrolk Association. She was chosen from more than 23,5090 members nationwide for dedication to the payroll industry and for outstandinbvolunteer achievements. And given the economy over thelast year, that job must have becoms much, much harder.
Staff writer Bill Hethcock and Web reportedr Kerri Panchuk contributed tothis column.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
HHGregg seizes opportunity as others close - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
The contraction of other retailers has presented opportunitiesefor HHGregg, based in Indianapolis. The company is takinfg advantage of excess inventory in the retail real estates market to gain market Dennis May, president and chief operating officer, said in a “The combination of our effective operating model, an opportunistic real estates environment, strong partnerships with key vendors and the availability of talente d field-level personnel creates a significantf opportunity for the company to accelerated its growth,” May said.
The chain HGG) is opening stores in Tampa Clearwater, Spring Hill and A limited numberof retailers, includingv ’s and , are also expanding but HHGregg is being more aggressive, said David Conn, southeast directodr of retail services at in Many of the chains expanding locally are discounf retailers, which are being selective about price and terms, including co-tenancy Conn said. HHGregg plans to open between 20 and 22 stores duringy the current fiscal year that endsMarcb 31, up from 16 to 18 as announced There also will be multiple openingxs in Memphis, Tenn., and Richmond, Va.
Capital expenditures, net of sale and leaseback proceeds, are expected to rangw between $45 million and $50 million for the fiscal year, up from previouzs expectationsof $30 million to $35 million, accordinb to the company. The increasr primarily reflects the incremental capital expenditures expected to be incurred in late fiscal 2010 for increasedc store openings in earlyfiscal 2011. In fiscal the company expects to open betweeh 40 and45 stores. The majority will be in large- and mid-size metropolitan markets in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Baltimore and Washington. HHGregg also plans to open its fourtuh central distribution center forthe Mid-Atlantic region in earlhy fiscal 2011.
The company has executed leases for nearlgy all of the stores projected to open in fiscal 2010 and has begun to execute leasese forfiscal 2011. HHGregg’s boarde has approved 18 locationsfor 2011. The companyg is using cash and a credit facility to pay for the but it’s also exploring the use of equity and debt as an alternativd financing option. HHGregg now has 112 stores in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolinwa and Tennessee.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sales of imported ros wines leap 42 percent - The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area:
U.S. retail sales of imported rosé wines leapt 42 percenr in the 52 week period endingApril 4, compared with a less-than-5-percenf increases in total sales of tablew wines during the same according to data cited by the . The Frencuh wine council, known in Francse as Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provencreor CIVP, said Monday the steep rise in rosé consumptiohn is consistent with an earlier study by Internationa l Wine & Spirit Record predicting that consumptioh of the popular pinkish wines worldwide will jump from 565 million bottles to 620 millionj by 2012. Not surprisingly, the CIVP expects the growinhg thirst forimported rosé wines in the U.S.
market will bode well for particularly its Provence wine The French produce 28 percent of worldwide winesby volume, making it the leadet in the category, according to the wine counsel, which represents 700 Provence wineries and 55 local tradiny companies. Provence produces 38 percent of France’s the group reported. Separately, Nielsen figures revealed that2008 U.S. salex of rosé table wines priced at $6 per bottlwe or more jumped 24.9 percenr by price and 22.4 percent by volume, despite a weakening economy.
Monday, September 27, 2010
DLR Group focusing efforts on stimulus projects - Washington Business Journal:
As soon as Congress passedf the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Phoenix principal Bryce Pearsall and three other DLR principals acros s the country created a team specifically to pursuestimuluz projects. Although DLR has a long historgy of working in thepublicd sector, it has nevetr chosen to chase projects this way. “As a we decided we wanted to jumpinto this. We had to though, what kind of stimulus projectsd we wantto do,” Pearsall said.
With $787 billion beint divvied up by federal and statd agencies for all sortsof programs, the DLR principals decidefd they needed to focus on a few strategic They are pursuing contracts that are geographicallt convenient to any of DLR’s 15 match their long-standing skill sets; and have expedient delivery methods. Under traditional architecturse contracts, a firm is selectedd to designa project. But many stimulu s projects arerequiring design-build meaning an architecture firm needs to partnef with a contractor and presenft the bid as a DLR has done that before, but the firm is researching additionaol relationships with contractors.
In addition, government agencies are handingv out contracts more often throughthe “indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity” process. Under IDIQ, agencies accepf applications from companies and qualify them to perfornmongoing work. For instance, a military installation might have a contract with a specifi c company to handle utilith work for a period ofseverall years. DLR recently started pursuing IDIQ given how lucrative it can be over both the shortt andlong term. “We believe government agencies are open to looking at establishing IDIQ relationshipsw with companies that have our kind of Pearsall said.
So far, DLR has received one contractt for a court designin Florida, but the companyy expects to hear soon about several other bids. Although DLR is researching stimulus-fundede jobs through both federal and state the reality is that few of those jobs will be locatef inthe Southwest. In fact, many of the prime architecture assignments are on the East Several contracts previously had been awarded to butthere wasn’t enough moneyu to proceed with those projectws until the stimulus package was passed.
“It’s important to note that many shovel-readh projects are not being publisheed for solicitation because the original firms are beintg awarded thepostponed projects,” said Mark president of the Arizona Chaptert of the American Institute of Architects. Patterson said his , will benefit from a previouslyunfundeds contract: the renovation of the Smithsonian Institute of Arts and Industriess Building in Washington. That work is beinfg coordinatedby SmithGroup’s Washington Despite the apparent dearth of work slated for the Southwest, SmithGrou is engaging in a “closely organized approach,” Pattersonh said.
“We are optimistic about a wide varietyy of building types gaining including medical, office, museum and research facilities.” Another national firm with a significany local presence, , also is in hot pursuitr of stimulus cash. The General Services Administrationb hasselected OWP/P to provide architecture and engineerinf services to design and build land port of entry and bordee stations in Zone 1, which encompasses Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Washington and OWP/P’s Chicago offices also received an IDIQ award for Region 5, which covers a chunk of the According to OWP/P spokesperson Kelly McClennan, aboutt $6 billion of work to be funde through GSA will include renovations to federal buildingss and border stations.
“About 75 percentg of these GSA-managed funds are earmarked for convertingf existing federal buildingsto high-performance, energy-efficient facilities,” McClennan said. Officiale at all three firms remain hopeful that more localizer renovation and infrastructure projects will brin g work toValley
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Web addresses will enter a new and bigger domain - Kansas City Business Journal:
For example, the city of Kansaz City could buy a domaibn name and change its addressxfrom www.kcmo.org to www.kcmo.kansascity if it so decided. Some trademarkk lawyers and social media experts suggest that businesses will want to update their trademarkesbefore 2010, lest a competitor or a roguew domain-squatter buys an extension and sets up a mirror Web site to an existint corporate site. “It seems kind of scary for a big Perhaps ... would have to buy all those extensions,” said Angelko Trozzolo, president of . “I don’t see it beiny as big an issue for thesmaller companies.
” New domaih extensions are not cheap: $185,000 for the initial registratiom and an additional $75,000 annual maintenance fee. “They have been debating how high to make the cost becauss they want to make it high enough that legitimatre businesses are doing this but not so high that peopld arediscriminated against,” said Joan an intellectual property lawyer at . Buying new domaimn extensions offers possible upside as an avenure to extend brand control with additional Internet domain Archer said. “It gives you greatef control overyour brand. Basically (it) givew you the ability to do a lot of things withthoses extensions,” she said.
Others are less certain that new domain namexs willcatch on. Ed Marquette, an intellectual property lawyertat , likens the new domain extensions for 2010 to ICANN’sa decision in 2002 to allow suffixes such as and “biz,” which have gone largelyu unused because sites affixed with unusual domainj names project less credibility. “It’s like it’sd secondary, and they’re not Marquette said.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Rockett, Burkhead & Winslow files for bankruptcy - Triangle Business Journal:
In its filing, the Raleign company lists about $1.6 millionh in assets and $7.3 millionh in liabilities. The company estimates that it has betweenn 200 and 999 Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a compant to reorganize operations while gettiny protection fromits creditors. RBW’s bankruptcy filing listz large creditors suchas , , Fortune magazine, and . The ad agency is paid by its clients to develop and buy advertising invariouse media. CEO and President Grant O’Neal says that RBW was harmed by decreasedad spending, particularlg among its large clients.
He declinedf to name those clients but pointed tothe company’sz Web site; some of the bigger clients listed there include , and . Companieds also are setting plans for their annuaol advertising spending later in the year than theyhave been, O’Neal which has left agencies such as RBW in the The combination of thos e two factors led RBW to realize, early this month, that it wouls need to file for bankruptcuy despite a solid 2008, O’Neal “What we are seeing, almost universally, is a real difficulty of clients nailing down their plans,” he says. “That’s what created the significant problemfor us. We knew we couldn’r operate as we exist today.
” Part of the company’s restructurinf includes the layoff of 15 amove O’Neal called “quite painful” but O’Neal didn’t immediately have the number of employeexs who still work at RBW. Accordint to bankruptcy documents, RBW’ gross revenue in 2008 was abouty $38 million, versus $36 million in 2007. Burkhead & Winslow was founded in 1985 by businessmenHoware Rockett, Scott Burkhead and Michaeo Winslow. Rockett and Burkhead retired in 2006.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
BioDelivery Sciences lines up stock-offering option - Triangle Business Journal:
Securities filings show the company has filesd a shelf registration for the sale of upto $50 millioh in BDSI stock. CEO Mark Sirgko says the company is well funded and does not plan at this pointy to issue the new shares but might do so when the markef improves and if the cashis needed. It makes littlew sense to go out and sell sharesat $3 a sharer when the pricing is expected to be Sirgo says of the company’s which is selling a little above $3 a sharde on the Nasdaq stock market.
BDSI’s filinfg says the Raleigh company would use proceeds from a prospectivr fundraiserfor “general corporate purposes, includinf the advancement of our product language typical of such filings. BDSI’ds lead product, Onsolis, is a small patcj that deliversthe pain-killing drug fentanyl. Unlike already availabl fentanylskin patches, Onsolis is placed on the inside of the delivering the drug to the bloodstream Onsolis is intended for cancer patients who experience “breakthrough beyond what other drugs can manage. BDSI has been fundinh its operations mostly from milestone payments from drug developmentpartnetr Meda.
The Swedish pharmaceutical company has distribution rightxs for Onsolis in theUnitedd States, Canada, Mexico and BDSI is due a $30 million payment from Meda upon approvalo of Onsolis. Earlier this month, BDSI receivee $6 million in additional financingfrom Meda. The deal calls for Meda to pay $3 millionm for the worldwide rights to distribut e Onsolis in every country except Taiwan andSouth Korea.
The deal also calls for Meda toadvance $3 milliohn of the $30 million milestone payment due upon approval of Sirgo says the financing will be appliedc to regulatory work associated with Onsolis as well as other BDSI is also developing an antifungal treatment that can be administered He says phase I clinical trial results for that product, Biorapl Amphotericin B, should be available by earlyh March. Shelf registrations are common among public Chris Matton, a securities lawyer with in Raleigh, says the filingsz allow companies to have their plans blessed by the so that when the compant is ready, it can go ahead and seek to raisse money by issuing new securities.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Report: Austin will be 5th fastest growing U.S. metro in coming years - Business First of Buffalo:
million by the year 2025, according to an analysiss of government databy bizjournals. The projected growth rate of Austij and its suburbs ranksd 5th among250 U.S. metropolitan areasa studied inthe report. Bizjournals forecasts that the Austin-Round Rock area will grow nearluy 87 percent from its 2005 estimated population ofnearly 1.5 millioh to a 2025 projected populatio of 2.7 million, an increase of nearlu 1.3 million residents. Austin will see the most growtj of any Texas according to thebizjournals analysis. The McAllen-Edinburg area will be the second-fastesy growing metro in ranking 22nd on the list with an estimatecd 56 percent growthin population.
Dallas/Fort Worthu ranks 26th with a projected 50 percent population increaseeto 8.8 million people; Houston ranks 27th with a projectede 48 percent population increase to 7.9 millio n people; San Antonio ranks 40th with a projectecd 41 percent population increase to 2.7 million people. for the full bizjournals growth reporton U.S. metro-area growth. And for a chart showing the breakdowjacross metros.
Monday, September 20, 2010
New discipline, capital put Carstar Collision Centers on a roll - Kansas City Business Journal:
He stuck with Carstar through many such as membership spikes when it advertisexd in and drops when itchanged tack. In the past four he said, Carstar finally achieve many of itsinitial aims. owner of in Janesville, Wis., is among those who persisted during a turbulent stretcuh as Chairman and CEO Dick Cross beganm leading an effort to refurbishy Carstar from what hecalls “a loose confederacy to a high-performancde franchise.” The company had 180 U.S. storesd when Cross began his efforts inearly 2005; 85 left in the next coupler of years. Now, Carstar has rebuily to about 270 U.S. stores and is growing.
“Oh yeah, there’e been push-back,” said Utzig, who has run his shop for abouy30 years. “The problem is, all of us body shop ownersw areindependent guys, ... It’s pretty difficult to try to convincwe a successful business owner that he needs to use maybes some different structure inhis business.”
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Tobacco taxes to benefit research institutions - South Florida Business Journal:
The fund will be administered by the Florida Department of which will rely on the opinions ofthe state’d Biomedical Research Advisory Councilo to vet research proposals. Dr. Richard who chairs the council and is alsothe ’w vice provost for research, said that the tobacco money will allow the counci to make a special call for applications for Floridaa researchers seeking funds. Projects will need to be focusedx broadlyon smoking-related diseases. “It’zs cancer, lung disease, heart disease or stroke,” Bookmam said. Come August, the Biomedical Research Advisory Council is hopinh to put out a callfor proposals, Bookma n said.
After proposals go throughj an out-of-state peer review process, the council will do a review to prevent conflicts of interest and then it will forwarde recommendations to the State Departmentof Health.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Academic Team honoree: David Ban - Business First of Buffalo:
Accomplishments: National Merit Scholarship Class valedictorian. SAT score of 1,530. Scorews of 98-100 on three Regents exams. AP Scholar Award (witbh Distinction). Harvard Book Award. Captain of Sciencw Olympiad team. President of Math Club. Editoe of school newspaper. Full David Min Hyeon Ban. Born: November 8, 1991, Ohio. Parents: Ban Meebong, Ban Residence: Williamsville. Favorite class: Linearf algebra (taught by Joaquin Carbonara). “It showed me how to expancd my mind whenapproaching math. After taking this I am able to look at math in a much moreabstracy sense.
” College and likely major: , Hope to be doing 10 yearas from now: “I hope that I will be doing my residency at Johns If could meet anyone from history: Aristotle. “ I would like to discuss philosophy and lear from one of the greatest thinkers of all If could have dinneer with anyonenow alive: Barack Obama. “I would ask him how he learnedc to give suchinspirationao speeches.” to proceed to the next First Team honoree: Nick Brown.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
NJ Transit redevelopment project for south Hoboken moving forward - The Hudson Reporter
NJ Transit redevelopment project for south Hoboken moving forward The Hudson Reporter The city of Hoboken published a press release on Monday evening providing an update regarding redevelopment near the Hoboken Terminal. ... |
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Eastern Market reopens Friday - Austin Business Journal:
The fire, in April 2007, gutted much of the 136-year-olx market and left its vendors without apermanent home. The District set up a temporary home for many of thoss vendors nearby shortly afterthe blaze. Eastern Market, at 7th and C streetd SE, has now undergone a $22 million head-to-toe one many of its regulars have calledlong overdue. Althougnh the cause of the fire has nevere beenofficially determined, it was widelt believed to have been the result of faulth electrical wiring.
Eastern Market’s reopening will see many of its originapl vendors return to once again hawk everything from freshy meatsand cheeses, to flowers art and Longtime Capitol Hill resident Jim Zaniello is among regulars who are looking forward to returninbg to the market. “It’s exciting to know that all of our markett family will be back in the original building and that they will continuw to be an important part of the Hill communit y for years to he said. “Eastern Market is an integrapl part of life onthe Hill.
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Saturday, September 11, 2010
Inmark moves to Avondale from Pinson - Austin Business Journal:
Real estate firm said the plastic containerse and packaging companyleased 23,625 square feet of office and warehouse space at the park in Avondale. The companyy has been in its current location in Pinsonn Valley for more than 20 Jack Key of Graham represented Inmarj and Brad Moffat of represented the Graham said broker Walter Brown has the listinh on morethan 410,000 square feet of subleasse space at the Colonnade in AT&T’s vacant South Tower building. Radiolog Associates renewed its 4,669-square-foot lease at Vestavia Centre. Brown representeed the landlord in the renewed its lease in Calera and Decomz Modular Systems renewed its leassein McCalla.
Combined, the two companiews occupy morethan 270,000 square feet of spacwe in Graham & Co. developments. The renewals were handledr by Graham brokers Sonny Culp and Ogden Deaton.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Pedal to Properties takes on partner, plans expansion - Orlando Business Journal:
Founded and headed by Matt Kolb, Peda to Properties is a residential real estate firm that givesd clients the option of looking at homeasby bicycle. The company maintains a fleet of 50 ElectrawCruiser bikes. Kolb has sold a 50 percenr stake in the company for an undisclosed sum to attorney Tim who specializes in taking regional retail businesses As a partner in Pedalto Properties, Majord will work out of the company’x Boulder office. Majors, who’s originallg from Perth, Australia, approached Kolb about investint in the real estate firm after looking at Boulder propertieszby bicycle.
“We certainly plan to incorporatse [Tim’s] national and international branding expertise to expand Pedal to Properties inother markets,” Kolb said in a Pedal to Properties plans to look at openinvg branch offices in other, unspecifiefd U.S. markets. In May, the compant launched a licensee designation for brokers interested in usinvg theBoulder business’ operational formula in theitr markets. The Colorado compan y already is working to expand quickly in its hometown by addingg more space and agents indowntown Boulder.
“I believe Pedal to Propertiews is in a perfect position to meet the evolvinbg social and demographic changes going on in the Unitedd Stateswith homebuyers,” Majors said in a statement.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tia Fuller Takes âDecisive Stepsâ With Her Quartet, at the Jazz Showcase ... - Jazz Police
Tia Fuller Takes âDecisive Stepsâ With Her Quartet, at the Jazz Showcase ... Jazz Police And although time in the pop/R&B world leaves less for jazz projects, her jazz chops have been honed with the Ralph Peterson Septet, the TS Monk Septet, ... |
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
List of GM dealerships to close in Minnesota grows - Dayton Business Journal:
The industry group said a survey of its memberzs found that 109 of the 149 GM dealers in the states will either lose a particulartGM brand, be forced to drop some competing manufactureer brands in their GM stores, or lose their stores altogether. The numbef of outright shutdowns has amonth ago, GM indicated that 30 dealer s would close. After the giant automaker’ss plunge into bankruptcy June 1, roughly 3,600 dealers nationwide received newsales agreements.
The owners of about 1,350p other dealerships were notified that they needed to wind down asGM That’s in addition to the 1,100 that receivedr similar messages last month as part of GM’s which involves keeping only top dealers and The new agreements also may require survivint dealers to upgrade their And there may not be very much dealer s can do about it, . (subscriptionm required). GM expects the closings to start this year and wrap up by the fallof 2010. In a presas release Friday, Scott Lambert, executivw vice president of the Minnesota Auto Dealers criticized GM’s decision to have dealers sign new salew agreements with the manufacturer.
“Besides the tragic and inexplicabld shutdown ofprofitable stores, GM seemds determined to use bankruptcyg as an opportunity to shake up everybody’x business,” he said. “It appears to us that everyt Pontiac dealer in the states was informed that Pontiac as a brans will ceaseto exist. “In addition, GM is eliminating many Cadillavc dealerships. We believe they plan to reassigj some of these franchises which would be in violation of statde law regulatingfranchise agreements.” Lambert also blasted GM’x decisions to close so many stores, even some that are turning a profit. “This company is lost rightg now.
I just don’t understand how you sell more cars withfewedr outlets,” he said. Susan Garontakos, a spokeswoman for the declined to comment on thetrade association’s presz release because she said the informatiobn about what was closing was confidentiapl and because its such an emotional time for all of the partiees involved. She said the company selectec which dealerships to close after a careful analysis that begamnin April. “The reality is we don’tg have enough customers buying vehicles and we have a lot of outletss that are in place to supporft a muchlarger market.
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